By Emily K. Bright, Engage Minnesota It’s not the first time you’ve been a victim of a hate crime, nor is it the last. It’s 8:30 on a winter evening, and you’re closing up your store. The entrance door is locked, half the lights are off, and you’re mopping at the far end of the room when three men barge in the exit door as though they mean to rob you. Two of the men have their hooded backs to you. One of them you can see. He’s over six feet tall, with short reddish blonde hair and a goatee. Read More …
Look Beyond Those Who Race Ahead and Cry
On March 5th, House Resolution 951, which condemned Palestinians for rocket fire at Israel, passed in a vote of 404 to 1. The lone voice of dissent was that of Congressman Ron Paul, who rose against the resolution, saying it was unfair and inflammatory in its condemnation only of Palestinian attacks. What was alarming was that all Minnesota Congresspeople voted in favor. I want to openly and publicly ask these Minnesota Congresspeople some questions.
Basimah Hasan: Changing Images Every Friday at 4
Talk-Show Host Aims to Correct Distorted Picture of Muslims and Islam By Marcia Lynx Qualey, Engage Minnesota It was 1998 when Basimah Hasan left her hometown of Chicago for Minneapolis. In the Twin Cities, she attended nursing school and began her career at North Memorial Hospital. She says that there is a “big difference” between the Minneapolis and Chicago Muslim communities. TV Show: “Islamic View” Airtime: 4 p.m. Fridays Time-Warner cable Ch. 16 “[There are] more Muslims in Chicago, and they’re more active. Here, everyone seems to be in their own ethnic groups. You don’t see a lot of activities Read More …
Ertijal (Improvisation): A Film Where Small Victories are Possible
Reviewer Deborah Young calls Ertijal, a documentary about three Palestinian oud-playing brothers, “uncontroversial.” Documentary: Ertijal (Improvisation) Screening: 7:30 p.m. Fri., Feb 22 Oak Street Cinema 309 Oak Street S.E. Minneapolis 55414 While an “uncontroversial” film set in Palestine and Israel might sound like code for “ignorant” or “milquetoast,” this film is neither. And while Ertijal, directed by Raed Andoni and appearing at Minneapolis’ Oak Street Cinema on Feb. 22, doesn’t explicitly engage in polemics, it does achieve the unusual in portraying Palestinians as full-spectrum human beings. They are not only interested in politics, as eldest brother Samir Joubran remarks in Read More …
Prominent Muslim Scholar to Speak in MN: ‘Is Coexistence Feasible?’
Dr. Jamal Badawi Scheduled to Appear Feb. 20 at University of St. Thomas By Fedwa Wazwaz, Engage Minnesota ATTEND IT Presentation: Dr. Jamal Badawi: “Is Coexistence Feasible? An Islamic Response.” 7 p.m. Weds., Feb. 20 O’Shaughnessy Educational Center Auditorium University of St. Thomas, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN Although Muslims in the United States and around the world have repeatedly condemned terrorism and extremism, Muslims stand falsely accused by nationally known commentators and influential religioumatts leaders of remaining silent. What does Islam say about terrorism? Sadly, we are forced to prove that we condemned terrorism. This is a situation Read More …